Egg quality characteristics of pullet chickens fed Neem (AzdirachtaIndica) leaf meal (NLM) managed under two housing systems

A study was carried out with 180 dominant black strain pullet birds to evaluate the effect of neem and housing types on egg quality characteristics of pullets at point of lay. The birds were randomly assigned to two housing types (deep litter with run and deep litter housing) of 6 treatment groups comprising of 30 birds and 3 replicates of 10 birds each. The experiment was arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial layout in a completely randomized design. Diets containing neem leaf meal (NLM) at 0, 0.5 and 1.0% was administered to birds. Data were collected egg external and internal characteristic at point of lay. Highest egg weight (45.53 g) was obtained in birds fed 0.5% NLM. Bright yellow yolks were obtained from birds managed on deep litter housing with run. It was concluded that up to 1.0% NLM could be included in the diets of laying pullets to trigger early egg production and improve egg yolk colour.